Full Results (.pdf) I Open Race Results (.pdf)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - If Friday's meet was any indication, next month's Horizon League Cross Country Championships should shape up to be a battle. Led by Ben Savage, the Jaguars placed eighth at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational with 231 points, trailing regionally ranked Oakland by a single point. Both teams finished well ahead of the three other Horizon League entries. 

"Today, overall, it was a pretty good day for us. We had some guys really go out there and run tough as nails. Those first three - Savage and Ratkovich and Hoffman - are just really good, tough runners," head coach Chuck Koeppen said. "I think we have some guys who still have a little bit more in them, but today was a good day up here. It was pretty cool to see teams from all over the country and see some really talented teams and runners, but I think we more than held our own in our race."

"Overall I think we took a step in the right direction," Savage said after leading the Jaguars to the finish line for a second consecutive race. "We still have some work to do so the team is staying hungry. We'll be ready when the time is right."

Savage clocked a time of 24:57.13 to place 23rd overall in the 5-mile race and Alex Ratkovich was just behind him at 25:01.62 in 28th. Eric Hoffman was 43rd in a time of 25:18.05 and freshman Nate Kaiser closed in 66th in a time of 25:33.65. Dustin Starnes, who was IUPUI's top finisher at last year's Horizon League Championships, was the Jags' No. 5 runner in a time of 25:40.91, placing 73rd overall. 

Brennan Butche (25:48.05), Lucas Rhed (26:05.72) and Josh Everetts (26:17.06) rounded out the Jaguars' eight entries in the Gold Division. 

In the open race earlier in the day, redshirt freshman Austin Ohm led the Jaguars' six entries in a time of 26:15.75 and Brooks Long was behind him at 26:33.32. 

Utah Valley edged Miami (Ohio) for the Gold Division team title by a tiebreaker while Kansas State (107), Akron (132) and LSU (163) rounded out the field's top five. UTEP's Titus Cheruiyot won the individual tape in a time of 24:13.01. 

IUPUI will return to action on Oct. 19 when the Jaguars compete in the Under Armour Pre-Natoinals Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind.

Team Results
1. Utah Valley - 86*
2. Miami (Ohio) - 86
3. Kansas State - 107
4. Akron - 132
5. LSU - 163
6. Calvin - 221
7. Oakland - 230
8. IUPUI - 231
9. UTEP - 250
10. Auburn - 287
11. Clemson - 288
12. Valparaiso - 298
13. Hillsdale - 301
14. Cal State Fullerton - 319
15. UMass Amherst - 331
16. Youngstown State - 378
17. UIC - 399
18. Stephen F. Austin - 411
19. Purdue Fort Wayne - 537
20. Green Bay - 675
     *won on tiebreak

Individual Results
23. Ben Savage - 24:57.13
28. Alex Ratkovich - 25:01.62
43. Eric Hoffman - 25:18.05
66. Nate Kaiser - 25:33.65
73. Dustin Starnes - 25:40.91
82. Brennan Butche - 25:48.05
101. Lucas Rhed - 26:05.72
111. Josh Everetts - 26:17.06

Open Race Results (of 111 runners)
58. Austin Ohm - 26:15.75
69. Brooks Long - 26:33.32
73. Josh Whitaker - 26:44.14
75. Jarit Perkins - 26:54.10
79. Dakota Merkel - 27:03.24
83. Jake McCullough - 27:15.68